Another PML-N MP faces corruption charges

ISLAMABAD: Maintaining strict ethical standards, the PML-N may take disciplinary action against another parliamentarian for his alleged involvement in a multi-million rupee land scam in the NWFP.

PML-N leader Sardar Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, who defeated General Ayub Khanís grandson in the February 2008 elections, may face tough times as an inquiry report about a land scam has gone against him.

The PML-N MNA from Haripur has been allegedly involved in a Rs 110 million land scam. However, he rejects such allegations as baseless. The inquiry report, a copy of which is available with The News, has been submitted by the Provincial Inspection Team (PIT) to the NWFP chief minister on acquisition of land for the construction of the Workerís Welfare Complex in village Kot Najibullah, Haripur. The report says that an extra sum of Rs 110 million was paid to the landowners, including the PML-N MNA.

Sources in the Revenue Department, Haripur, said that because of the influence of the PML-N leader, the land was sold to the government at very high rates with the help of some Revenue department officials. “No one could imagine that the arid land would fetch such a huge price for the owners,” said a top official.

The report says that the Workers Welfare Complex was planned to be constructed on the request of the Workers Welfare Board (WWB) in Haripur on 100 acres of land. Half of the land was purchased at Rs 220 million while its market price was 140 million, the report further says, adding by tampering with the record of the Revenue Department, an extra amount of Rs 31 million was paid to the landowners.

Interestingly, Sardar Muhammad Mushtaq Khan was one of the landowners and his brother was part of the price assessment committee for buying the land. The report states: “The main allegation of the complainant regarding a big land scam in Haripur... is very much true.”

The report recommends that the government officials involved in the scam should be suspended and penal action taken against others. Sardar Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, when contacted, said that his opponents were propagating against him and that the land was sold to the government at the market price after negotiations. “We sold the land and saved the time of the government. Otherwise, court litigation would have taken more than 10 years,” said the PML-N MP. He said that he owned only a small piece of the land sold to the government. He said initially his brother was included in the price assessment committee but distanced himself from the affair due to the land issue. Despite being the Nazim of the area, the brother asked a Naib Nazim to be the part of the price assessment committee.

Chief Secretary NWFP Javed Iqbal, when contacted for comments, said that the Provincial Inspection Team was working directly under the chief minister and after submission of the report, the CM had to pass an order, which would amount to a detailed inquiry followed by penal action against those involved in the scam.